The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opened on Sunday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi Jinping submitted a report to Congress on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee. Below are some highlights of the report.
The topic
The theme of the congress is to uphold the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party, uphold confidence and build strength, uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, advance with enterprise and strength, and strive in unity to build a modern socialist country in all aspects and push forward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, Xi said in the report.
three great events
The past decade marked three major events of great immediate importance and deep historical significance for the cause of the Party and the people, Xi said.
“We welcomed the centenary of the Communist Party of China, ushered in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and eradicated absolute poverty and finished building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thus completing the First Centennial Goal.”
Economic growth
China has seen a historic increase in its economic strength in the past decade, Xi said.
China’s GDP has grown to 114 trillion yuan (about $16 trillion) from 54 trillion yuan in the last decade and has come to account for 18.5% of the world economy, an increase of 7.2 percentage points, he said.
The central task of the CPCh
“From this day on, the CPC’s central task will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centennial Goal of making China a great modern socialist country in all respects and advance in the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization,” Xi said while outlining the CPC’s missions and tasks on the new path of the new era.
The theme of the congress is to hold high the great flag of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The CCP intends to basically carry out socialist modernization from 2020 to 2035 and build China into a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful modern socialist country from 2035 to the middle of this century.
The welfare of the people
Xi vowed to improve people’s well-being and quality of life.
“This country is his people; the people is the country. As the CCP has led the people in the struggle to establish and develop the People’s Republic, it has really fought for their support,” he said.
20th CPC National Congress Delegates Are “Broadly Representative”
China will improve the income distribution system. “We will ensure higher pay for more work and encourage people to achieve prosperity through hard work,” Xi said. “We will promote equal opportunity, increase the income of people with low incomes, and expand the size of the middle-income group.”
China will do more to help those struggling to find jobs and meet their basic needs, and improve the social security system by expanding the coverage of social insurance programs, he said.
national reunification
Xi said the CPC will carry out its overall policy to resolve the Taiwan issue in the new era and tirelessly promote the cause of national reunification.
“Solving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, a matter that must be resolved by the Chinese,” Xi said.
The CCP aims to basically carry out socialist modernization from 2020 to 2035
“We will continue to fight for peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and maximum effort, but we will never promise to relinquish the use of force, and we reserve the option to take all necessary measures.” This is aimed only at the interference of outside forces and the few separatists who seek “Taiwan independence” and their separatist activities; it is in no way directed at our compatriots in Taiwan,” he said.
Article republished by the Chinese state media CGTN within the framework of an agreement between both parties to share content. Link to original article:https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-10-16/CPC-opens-20th-National-Congress-1eaEClAZw1a/index.html
